Delphinium plant named ‘Delga Stam’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Delphinium plant named ‘Delga Stam’, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by green leaf color, violet blue/greyed-green flower color, upward facing flowers, new flowers grow from the center of existing flower after 4-8 weeks, flowers are persistent without adding pretreatment, much higher stem production per plant.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Delphiniumhybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Delga Stam’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofDelphinium, botanically known as Delphinium hybrid and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Delga Stam’.

The new Delphinium was discovered by the inventor, Irenaeus A. M. vanGaalen, in Den Hoorn, The Netherlands, in May 2001 as a plant within theprogeny from the cross between Delphinium belladona ‘Völkerfrieden’(female, unpatented) and Delphinium L. ‘Peacemaker’ (male, unpatented).

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by vegetative cuttings cuttingstaken at Den Hoorn, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique featuresof this new Delphinium are stable and reproduce true to type insuccessive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘Delga Stam’ have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in the environment such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Den Hoorn, The Netherlands in a normal glassgreenhouse under average day temperatures between 18 to 32 degreesCelsius and 10 to 18 degrees Celsius at night. No artificial lighting,photoperiodic treatments or other cultural or environmental treatmentsare conducted, no growth retardants are added. The plant described wasone year old and field grown under glasshouse structure.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Delga Stam’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Delga Stam’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. green leaf color;

2. violet blue/greyed-green flower color;

3. upward facing flowers;

4: new flowers grow from the center of existing flower after 4-8 weeks;

5. flowers are persistent without adding pretreatment; and

6. much higher stem production per plant.

Compared to ‘Völkerfrieden’, ‘Delga Stam’ has upward facing flowerswhereas ‘Volkerfrieden’ has horizontally facing flowers. The flowercolor of ‘Delga Stam’ is violet-blue with greyed-green whereas theflower color of ‘Volkerfrieden’ is blue. New flowers of ‘Delga Stam’grow continuously from the center of existing flowers after 4-8 weekswith sufficient light and temperature; ‘Volkerfrieden’ does not do this.The flowers of ‘Delga Stam’ are persistent unlike the flowers of‘Volkerfrieden’. Volkerfrieden needs pretreatment after cutting to avoidearly flower drop, ‘Delga Stam’ does not need pretreatment. ‘Delga Stam’has a much higher temperature resistance than ‘Volkerfrieden’. ‘DelgaStam’ produces significantly more stems than ‘Volkerfrieden’.

Compared to Delphinium belladonna ‘Peacemaker’, the sepals of ‘DelgaStam’ are violet blue with a broad greyed-green lateral band in thecenter whereas ‘Peacemaker’ has violet-blue sepals. The sepal shape of‘Delga stam’ is elliptic whereas the sepal shape of ‘Peacemaker’ isobovate. ‘Delga Stam’ has upward facing flowers whereas ‘Peacemaker’ hashorizontally facing flowers. New flowers of ‘Delga Stam’ grow from thecenter of existing flowers after 4-8 weeks with sufficient light andtemperature; ‘Peacemaker’ does not do this. The flowers of ‘Delga Stam’are persistent unlike the flowers of ‘Peacemaker’. ‘Peacemaker’ needspretreatment after cutting to avoid early flower drop, ‘Delga Stam’ doesnot need pretreatment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Delga Stam’ with colors being as true as possiblewith illustrations of this type. The drawing on the left side of thefirst sheet shows a plant with mature flowers grown in a green house.The drawing on the right side of the first sheet shows a close-up offlowers between immature and mature stage. The drawing on the left sideof the second sheet shows a comparison between ‘Volkerfrieden’ (left)and ‘Delga Stam’ (right). The drawing on the top middle of the secondsheet shows a close-up of an immature flower. The drawing on the topright of the second sheet shows a close-up of an immature flower. Thedrawing on the bottom right of the second sheet show a close-up of amature flower.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following measurements were taken in Den Hoorn, The Netherlands, onMay 27, 2002, 12 months after planting of rooted cuttings into 9 inchpots. The plants had not been pinched.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.). The color values weredetermined indoors from flowers developed in a greenhouse in May 2002,in Den Hoorn, The Netherlands.

Plant description:

Type.—Herbacaeos perennial.

Crop time.—20 weeks from rooted cutting.

Shape.—Narrow triangular.

Branching habit.—Heavily branched; main (flowering) shoots appear frombase, no lateral shoots. No lateral branches; average number of mainstems: 15.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Plant height.—Average 85 cm.

Area of spread.—Average 55 cm.

Vigor.—Moderate, 30-40 cm per month.

Growth rate.—Moderate, 30-40 cm per month.

Growth habit.—Upright.

High temperature tolerance.—At least tolerant to temperatures up to 35°C.

Low temperature tolerance.—At least hardy to USDA Zone 7.

Stem:

Internode length.—Average 7.5 cm (main stems).

Color.—Green,RHS 143A.

Stem appearance/shape.—Smooth, not very glossy, no pubescence.

Stem aspect.—Circular to somewhat flattened.

Stem strength.—Strong.

Stem length.—Average main stem length 85 cm.

Stem diameter.—Average main stem diameter 6 mm.

Number of harvestable stems per year.—Average 30.

Peduncle:

Length.—Average 38 cm.

Diameter.—Average 3 mm.

Angle.—0° to 10° (straight on top of branch=0°).

Strength.—Strong.

Color.—Green, RHS 143B.

Foliage description:

Arrangement.—Alternate.

Compound or single.—Single.

Quantity per flower stem.—Main branches: average 15.

Length.—Average 11.2 cm.

Width.—Average 15.5 cm.

Aspect.—Flat.

Shape.—Pedately cleft to very deep pedately lobed.

Apex.—Acute.

Base.—Attenuate.

Margin.—Incised to laciniate.

Texture.—Smooth, dull, no leaf pubescence.

Immature leaf color.—Color of upper surface: Green, RHS 137A. Color oflower surface: Green, RHS 138B.

Mature leaf color.—Color of upper surface: Green, RHS 139A. Color oflower surface: Green; RHS N138B to N138C.

Venation.—Laciniate.

Petiole length.—Average 15 cm, basal leaf petiole longer, average 26 cm.

Petiole diameter.—Average 2 mm.

Petiole color.—Green, RHS 143B.

Vein color upper side.—Green, RHS 143A to 143B.

Vein color under side.—Green, RHS 143B.

Flower description:

Inflorescence type/form.—Raceme.

Inflorescence height.—Average 40 cm.

Inflorescence diameter.—Average 25 cm.

Flower arrangement.—Terminal raceme.

Flower type.—Single.

Flower aspect.—Upright.

Natural flowering season.—Summer, June-August.

Flower longevity.—Average 6.5 weeks on plant, average 17 days as cutflower.

Quantity.—Average 300 per plant, average 20 per lateral stem.

Fragrance.—None.

Flowering habit.—Once a year, continuously.

Time to flower.—Approximately 9 months.

Other characteristics.—On both sides of each pedicel is one bract(alternate); length 3.7 cm, linear shaped, acute tip, green in color:upper side RHS 139A, lower side RHS 138A.

From the center of each flower grows a “pedicel” straight and upright(angle: 0°), average length 1.9 cm, average width 1.5 mm, green in colorRHS 137C, densely covered with very short light green hairs; on top ofthis pedicel are 3 (three) “leaves” with their margins fused, thuscreating a closed, tubular leaf; shaped narrow oblanceolate; toparistate; average length 3.9 cm, average width 4 mm; green in color RHS137C (both surfaces), densely covered with very short light green hairs;only the under side of these leaves is visible, because the margins arefused, the upper side is inside the “tube”.

Buds:

Length.—Average 1 cm, diameter is 7 mm.

Spur length.—Average 5 mm.

Shape.—Obovate.

Color.—Green RHS 143A, base lighter RHS 143C.

Quantity.—Average 20.

Flower size.—Average 6.5 cm in depth (including spur), average 5 cm indiameter.

Flower appearance.—Zygomorphic.

Rate of flower opening.—Approximately 20% of the flowers are opened atone stage; flowering period is about 2.5 months.

Petals:

Arrangement.—Zygomorphic, placed above ovary.

Quantity.—4 (rarely 5), not fused.

Appearance.—Dull.

Texture.—Smooth, lower petals with hairs in the centers.

Shape.—Lower petals spathulate to flabellate, upper petals narrowspathulate to almost oblong.

Margin.—Entire.

Length.—Lower petals average 1.4 cm, upper petals average 1.3 cm.

Width.—Lower petals average 7 mm, upper petals average 3.5 mm.

Tip.—Lower petals retused, upper petals obtuse.

Upper surface color when opening.—Lower petals violet-blue, RHS 90B to90C, center greyed-green RHS 189A with lighter (RHS 189C) hairs; upperpetals violet-blue RHS 94A.

Lower surface color.—Lower petals violet-blue RHS 90C to 90D, centergreyed-green RHS 189A, upper petals violet-blue RHS 93A.

Upper surface color fully opened.—Lower petals violet-blue; RHS 90B to90C, center greyed-green RHS 189A with lighter (RHS 189C) hairs; upperpetals violet-blue RHS 94A.

Lower surface color fully opened.—Lower petals violet-blue RHS 90C to90D, center greyed-green RHS 189A; upper petals violet-blue RHS 93A;petal color does not fade, there are no petaloids.

Sepals:

Quantity.—5.

Appearance.—Smooth, dull.

Arrangement.—Rotate, zygomorphic.

Shape.—Elliptic (only rarely obovate).

Length.—Average 4.6 cm.

Diameter.—Average 1.8 cm.

Texture.—Smooth, dull.

Margin.—Entire.

Color immature upper side.—Green, darker than but closest to RHS 139A,with violet-blue margins RHS 98B.

Color immature under side.—Green RHS 137C with violet-blue margins RHS98B.

Color mature upper side.—Green, darker than but closest to RHS 139A,with violet-blue margins RHS 98B.

Color mature under side.—Green; RHS 137C with violet-blue margins RHS98B.

Sepal apex.—Acute.

Sepal base.—Narrow cuneate, but upper sepal ending in a spur; averagelength of spur 8 mm.

Pedicels:

Length.—Average 20.5 cm.

Width.—1.5 mm.

Angle.—10° to 450° (0°=straight on top of peduncle).

Strength.—Strong.

Color.—Green RHS 141A to 141B.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.—Number of stamens: Average 30.

Anthers.—Anther shape: Basifixed, kidney-shaped. Anther size: Average1.5 mm. Anther color: Greyed-green RHS 197A. Pollen: Amount: Very low.Color: Green-white; approximately RHS 157A.

Pistils.—None.

Stigma.—None.

Calyx.—Calyx shape: Rotate, slightly cup-shaped. Calyx length: Average2.5 cm (excluding spur). Calyx diameter: Average 5 cm.

Ovary color.—Yellow-green; RHS 144D.

Seed.—None.

Pest/disease resistance/susceptibility.—Not more susceptible to pestsand diseases than other Delphinium varieties.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Delphinium plant named ‘DelgaStam’, as described and illustrated.